Operating RC1 Fume Hoods Health and Safety Division Fitzsimons Campus UCDHSC

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Operating RC1 Fume Hoods Health and Safety
DivisionFitzsimons CampusUCDHSC
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Fume Hood What is it?

• Primary device to capture, retain and ultimately
  discharge flammable and toxic chemicals from the
  laboratory
• A box-like structure enclosing a source of
  potential air contamination with one open or
  partially open side into which air is moved for
  the purpose of containing and exhausting air
  contaminants.
• Protective equipment that must be used correctly
  to offer protection from chemical exposure.

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RC1 Fume Hood Models

• Three types
• General Use
• Walk-In
• Radioactive

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General Use Fume Hood
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Walk-In Fume Hoods
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Radioactive Fume Hoods
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Fume Hood Components

• Hood Body
• Sash
• Baffle
• Bypass
• Airfoil
• Fan
• Stack

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Sash Operations

• Horizontal Sashes
• 4 Individual Horizontal Sashes
• Provide full frontal protection
• Vertical Sash
• Only permitted with closed horizontal sash
• Equipped with an alarm

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Baffle Operations

• Open Procedures with high heat load or lighter
  than air gases.
• Normal Average work utilizing general
  procedures.
• Closed Fumes generated at work surfaces or
  heavier than air gases.

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Two Types of Fume Hood Alarms

• Air Velocity Alarm
• Located on upper left side of fume hood
• Sash Position Alarm
• Located on upper right side of fume hood

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Fume Hood Velocity Alarms

• Fume Hood Velocity Alarm
• Alarms at low velocity 70 fpm
• Green Hood has correct face velocity
• Yellow Hood has marginal face velocity
• Red light Do not use fume hood
• Digital fpmfeet per minute

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Fume Hood Sash Position Alarm

• Sash Position Alarm
• Alarms when sash is raised.
• Reminds users to check horizontal sash position.
• Being changed to alarm when sash is raised
  higher than elevan inches.

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The environmental factor that affects fume hood
performance

• Air Currents impinging on the hood opening.
• Windows and doors
• Air diffusers
• Foot traffic

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Safe Operating Guidelines

• Proper location of equipment and apparatus.
• Operator Position and Movements
• Configuration of Vertical and Horizontal Sliding
  Sashes

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Proper location of equipment and apparatus

• Location of equipment and apparatus effects the
  airflow patterns with the hood.

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Proper location of equipment and apparatus
continued

• Locate equipment as deep into the hood as
  practical and at least six to eight inches beyond
  the plane of the sash.
• Elevate equipment 2 or 3 inches above the work
  surface to provide flow beneath equipment.
• As a rule of thumb, no more than 50 of the work
  surface should be covered by equipment, apparatus
  or other bulky obstructions.
• Power cords and cables should be run through
  plastic port openings and plugged in outside of
  the hood enclosure.

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Safe Operating Guidelines

• Proper location of equipment and apparatus.
• Operator Position and Movements
• Configuration of Vertical and Horizontal Sliding
  Sashes

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Operator position and movements

• Do not place your head beyond the plane of the
  sash.
• When gases, vapors and fumes are being generated
  in the hood, ensure that you slowly approach and
  withdraw from the hood. The wake zone created by
  movement near the hood opening can withdraw
  materials from within the hood.
• Rapid arm movements near the hood opening should
  be avoided.

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Safe Operating Guidelines

• Proper location of equipment and apparatus.
• Operator Position and Movements
• Configuration of Vertical and Horizontal Sliding
  Sashes

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Configuration of Vertical and Horizontal Sliding
Sashes

• The vertical sash should be lowered as much as
  possible.
• Raise sash to full open position for set-up
  purposes only.
• Close horizontal panels on combination sashes
  before opening the sash vertically. (Note RC1
  has an alarm reminder)
• Always close the sash when not working in the
  hood.

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Safety plan for conducting experiments in a fume
hood

• What are the characteristics of the hazards
  associate with the procedure?
• Will the hood accommodate the equipment and
  experimental apparatus?
• Is the hood capable of capturing and exhausting
  the contaminants?
• What are the hood capabilities and limitations?

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What to check before using a fume hood

• 1. Check the hood inspection label to ensure
  that the hood has been tested within the last 12
  months and operation was satisfactory at the time
  of the tests.

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What to check before using a fume hood

• 2. Check the alcove light switch. It needs to be
  on otherwise the hood will be energy saving mode.
  The flow is reduced to 50 fpm.
• fpm feet per minute

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What to check before using a fume hood

• 3. Check the hoods integrity and verify exhaust
  flow or face velocity. The standard for UCDHSC
  is 100 fpm /- 10 fpm
• fpm feet per minute

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Summary

• Always work at least six inches beyond the plane
  of the sash. The farther into the hood the
  better.
• Avoid rapid withdrawal from the hood.
• Close horizontal panels on combination sashes
  before opening the sash vertically
• Always close the sash when not working in the
  hood
• Baffles should only be adjusted per manufacturers
  recommendations.

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Summary - continued

• Elevate contaminants and equipment above the
  surface of the hood to enable flow beneath and
  around the obstructions.
• Avoid storing equipment and materials. If
  necessary, store along the sidewalls or well away
  from the point of contaminant generation. Do not
  store any equipment that restricts the closing of
  the sash or blocks the bottom slot of the baffle
  directly in front of the user.
• Keep movements in the hood and in front of the
  hood to a minimum.

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Thank you for attending. Have a safe day